proctor



3 4S'heets-Sh e-et 1. J K. PROOTOR & J. H. KNOWLES.

' Wood-Washing Machine.

INVENTORS.

I dsmn K. PROCIT'O WITNESSES AND 6 7' NRY KNOWLES BY M ATFRNEY NJHERS, PHDTGLITNOGBIPHER, WABHXNG'TON. BY 0.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

J. K. PROCTOR .& J. H. KNOWLES.

Wool-Washing Machine. No. 227,053. Patented April 27, 1880.

, IN VENTORS WITNESSES PEI'ERS, PHOTD'UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

I 4 Sheets-Sheet 8. J. K. PROCTOR & J. HVKNOWLES.

Wool-Washing Machine .No. 227,053. Patented April 27,1880.

WITNESSES Y R INVENTYORS! i7- MMQWU.

- N. PE ERS. FHOTO-LITAOGHAPNER, WASHING ON. a u.

4 Sheds-Sheet 4 J. K. PROOTOR 8v J. H. KNOWLES.

Wool-Washing Machine. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCEe JOSIAH K. PROOTOR AND J. HENRY KNOWLES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.

WOOL-WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,053, dated April 27, 1880.

Application filed July 21, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSIAH K. Pnoc'ron and J. HENRY KNOWLES, citizens of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Wool-Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in that class of wool-washing machines in which the wool, introduced into a bowl containing water or scouring-liquor, is agitated therein by rakes and delivered to pressurerolls, the objects of our invention being to insure the thorough soaking of the wool before it is raked through the bowl, to effect the agitation of the wool within the bowl, to so regulate the action of the rakes in respect to the feeding-apron as to prevent the overcharging of the bowl with wool, to thoroughly rinse the wool before it is discharged from the bowl,

and to prevent the access of water to the bearings of the lower pressure-roll. These objects we attain in a manner too fully described hereinafter to need preliminary explanation, reference'bein g had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a perspective view of our improved wool-washing machine; Fig. 2, Sheet 2, a vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section on the line 1 2 Fig. 4, a section on the line 3 4 Fig. 5, Sheet 3, a vertical section on the line 5 6; Fig.6, a vertical section on the line 6 7 5 and Fig. 7, Sheet 4, a sectional plan of part of the machine on the line 8 9, Fig. 2.

The tank or bowl of the machine consists of the opposite side frames, A A, and the intervening bottom plate, A, the preferred shape of this bowl being best observed in Fig. 2.

Above the bottom of the bowl is a perforated plate, B, extending from the front end of the said bowl .to the point x, whence an inclined plane or chute, D, extends to and beyond the rear end of the bowl.

An endless apron or band, E, passes over the idler-rollerc and driven roller a, which have their bearings on brackets a a secured to the side plates of the bowl, Fig. 1.

On extensions of the side plate, A, of the bowl, or on a suitable frame-work attached to the bowl, are bearings for the three shafts F, G, and H.

On the shaft F is a crank, b, the pin of which passes through the stem of the stirrer-rake I, the said stem passing through a guide, 0, swiveled to a projection, c, on the frame-work. This rake has two sets of teeth-namely, the ordinary teeth (1 and the curved teeth ewhich constitute an important feature of our invention, and the functions of which will be explained hereinafter.

The teeth cl may not of necessity be straight teeth, but are sometimes made slightly curved toward the delivery end of the machine but the teeth 0 are sharply curved in the direction of the feed end of the machine, the office of the teeth (I being to rake the stock along through the bowl, the teeth 0 serving to depress the stock under the water.

011 the shaft G is a crank, b, the pin of which passes through the stem of the stirrerrake I, the said stem passing through a guide swiveled to the frame, and the teeth being of v the ordinary construction. There maybe two or more of these stirrer-rakes I--as many as the length of the bowl may suggest.

On the shaft H is a crank, b, the pin of which passes through an arm, J, the upper end of the latter passing through a guide swiveled to the frame, and the lower forked end of the arm being connected to the carrier K, near the front end of the same, arms f projecting from the rear end of this carrier, and a rod, f, passing through these arms and bearing on curved ways attached to the side plates of the bowl. As this carrier-rake is similar in construction and operation to the carriers of other woolwashing machines, a further description of it will not be necessary.

L L are the two pressure-rollers, adapted to bearings of the peculiar character described hereinafter.

M is the driving-shaft, provided with pulleys M and M, and the shaft is geared through the medium of an appropriate system of cogwheels to the lower pressure-roller, L, the rollers themselves being geared together by the cogwheels h h.

A shaft having a pinion, 1', (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2,) is driven from the pulley M and is i' on the driving-shaftM, the pinion gearing with a wheel, j, (also shown by dotted lines,) on the shaft H, which is geared to the rake-shaft G.

By a suitable train of wheels (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2) the shaft Gris geared to a pinion, k, Figs. 1 and 7, which is loose on the rake-shaft F, and to the latter is secured a pulley, it, a band from which drives the apron-shaft a through the medium of appropriate gearing.

On the hub of the pulley 70 there is a sliding clutch, l, from which a pin projects through the said pulley, the clutch being controlled by a suitable hand-lever, Z. When the clutch l is in the position Fig. 7, the pinion 70 will turn freely on the shaft F, so that there can be no movement of the apron or first rake; but on so moving the clutch I that its pin shall passinto an opening in the pinion 7c the shaft F must turn with the pinion, and the apron and first rake must be put in action.

The pin on the clutch and passing through the pulley 7c is so situated in respect to the crank which operates the first rake and to the opening in the wheel k that the shaft F cannot be started before the rake I is in proper position to operate in unison with the other rakes.

The importance of this feature of our invention will be understood when it is remembered that the bowl sometimes becomes overcharged with wool, in which case the attendant stationed near the apron can, by manipulating the lever l, throw the first rake and apron out of gear and permit them to remain inactive until the second rake and carrier, K, have disposed of the surplus wool.

The movement of the rakes II in the bowl is the sa'fias in other wool-washin g machines, cated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. It should ts understood, however, that the shafts F, G, and H are geared together with wheels of such relative diameters that two complete movements are made by the carrier-rake K, while each of the rakes I I makes one complete movement. By this arrangement we insure a more uniform discharge of the wool from the bowl.

The upper end of the fork N, having anumber of prongs, is pivoted to the frame of the machine, the fork being permitted to oscillate freely to an extent determined by any suitable stops, so that the lower end of the prongs cana not be elevated higher than about half way from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the top of the bowl. As the fork I descends and moves in the direction of the arrow a mass of wool will be depressed into the water in front of the fork N by the supplementary curved teeth of the rakeI, while another mass of wool which has been previously depressed is withdrawn by the teeth at of the said rake beneath the fork N. It will thus be seen that, owing to the supplementary teeth 0, a depressed mass of wool will always be submerged, so as to be effectually saturated in front of the fork N, after I one movement of the rake, until it is removed by another movement of the rake, which submerges another mass of wool.

Beneath the perforated plate B of the bowl is formed a chamber, 1?, with which communicates a pipe, P, the latter being in communication with a supply of air under pressure. The chamber P is situated about midway between the shafts F and G of the two rakes I I, so that thejets of air passing through the perforations of the plate B from the chamber P will cause an agitation-of the water and of that wool which for the time being is not within range of either of the two rakes I or I. This is an important feature of our invention, for it is essential that the wool should be thoroughly agitated in the bowl at all points. There may be a number of these air-chambers at different points if the number of rakes is increased.

To a seat in the bottom of the bowl is adapted a valve, Q, Fig. 5, connected to a lever, Q, pivoted to a stud, m, the outer end of the lever being connected by a rod, m, to the short arm of a lever, B, Fig. 1, which carries a pawl, 01., the point of the latter being adapted to the teeth of a segment, R, secured to the outside of the bowl.

By means of a button, 71/, on a spindle, which is arranged to turn in the lever, and to which the pawl is attached, the latter can be moved clear of the teeth of the segment when the lever has to be operated, or can be turned in either direction, so as to lock the valve when elevated or depressed.

It will be observed that the rod m is contained within a chamber, 19, formed by a protuberance, p, on the casting, which forms one side of the bowl, this chamber being in free communication with the interior of the said bowl. This arrangement obviates the necessity of resorting to stuffing-boxes or manipulating the valve from the outside of the bowl.

There is a similar chamber, 19, on the opposite side of the bowl, and this chamber forms a passage through which water from a pipe, 3, can be introduced into the bowl, beneath the perforated bottom of the same-a plan which is preferable to that heretofore practiced of permitting water to flow into the bowl from above, owing to the inconvenient splashing resulting from the old plan.

There is a pipe, T, through which steam is introduced into the bowl below the perforated bottom, and there is a branch pipe, q, communicating with the main water-pipes, a hose being attached to the end of this branch pipe when it becomes necessary to wash out the.

bowl by introducing the nozzle of the hose below the perforated bottom B. There is also another branch, g, extending from the main water-pipes to a point near the pressure-rollers, for a purpose explained hereinafter.

Heretofore it has been the practice of manufacturers of wool-washing machines to send to the works where it has to be erected a machine without any pipes such as those referred to,

at a convenient point, so that one attendant can, without changing his position, manipulate the valves of any of the pipes. When our improved machine has been erected the duty of the plumber becomes a very simple and inexpensive one, as it is restricted to the simple makingof communication with the fixed pipes.

It will be seen, on reference to Fig. 2, that the lower portion of the lower pressure-roller, L, is contained within a trough, T, and that the front of this trough extends upward nearly to the top of the roll L, so as to catch all the liquor as it falls from the pressure-rolls. At the upper end of the inclined plane or chute D, and opposite the rollers L L, is situated a chamber, T, with which the branch waterpipe q communicates, so that the attendant can, by manipulating the cock of this pipe, introduce water under pressure into the charm ber, whence it escapes in a thin film through an elongated slot, or in jets through perforations, in the direction pointed out by the arrow, so that as the wool, owing to the action of the carrier-rake, is passing from the inclined chute D to the pressure-rollers it is flooded and charged with water before it is compressed by and between the rollers. In addition to the effectual rinsing of the wool by this forcible stream or streams of water, the latter have a tendency to direct the wool in the proper course to the rollers. The waste water expressed from the wool falls into the trough T, whence it may be carried off through a suitable waste-pipe, while the wool passes from the rollers in the usual manner.

On referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the shaft U of the upper pressure-roller has near each end a journal, a, larger in diameter than the shaft itself, this journal being adapted to a bearing, 1:, having at the top a rounded projection, on which bears the box V, the latter being adapted to guides in the frame of the machine and being acted on by the weighted levers referred to hereinafter.

The openings in the box, which is made in two parts, for admitting the shaft U are but slightly larger in diameter than the shaft itself, so that there may be always at the bottom of the box a supply of oil, in which a portion of the circumference of the journal is always immersed.

The upper roller is occasionally elevated more at one end than the other, owing to clumps of wool passing between the rollers at different points; hence the importance of making the journal 1; byits rounded projection selfaccommodating to different inclinations of the shaft.

Each bearing v for the shaft of the lower roller rests on the bottom of an oil-chamber formed in the frame of the maclnne and has an enlarged journal,to which the oil has access at all times.

Owing to the great pressure exerted by the weighted levers upon the pressure-rolls the friction upon the bearings of said rolls is very great; hence the necessity of the oil-chambers as constructed, so that the enlarged bearings of the rolls shall be. sure to be always well lubricated. i In order to prevent the water, more or less of which splashes from the rollers, from gaining access to the oil-chambers and bearings of the rollers, we place above eachjournal of the lower roller a shield, 10, having an inclined portion, which extends downward into the space between the end of the roller and a collar, g, on the shaft, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the shield deflecting such water as may fall on it away from the bearing, and the collar y preventing the water from passing along the shaft to the bearing.

A lever, X, pivoted to the bowl or frame, bears on each bearing-box V of the upper pressure-roller, and each lever X is connected by a link, 4, to a lower lever, 5, pivoted to an extension of the frame, and provided near its outer end with a weight.

A comparatively trifling yielding of the upper roller to clumps of wool passing at intervals between it and the lower roller will cause extended movements of the weighted levers 5, and these movements are of such violence as to cause a jarring of the machine, and so sudden as to be dangerous to the attendants, whose duties compel them to pass to and fro near the levers.

In order to obviate these evils we secure to the foundation of the machine or to the frame, or both, a box, 6, below each weighted lever, the box containing suitable material for serving as a cushion for receiving the falling weight and absorbing the shock, which, in the absence of the cushion, would cause jars detrimental to the machine. A shield, 7, projects upward from each box, so that the feet of the attendants cannot come within range of the falling weight.

'We do not desire to claim, broadly, the

combination of the pivoted fork with a rake; I

nor do we claim, broadly, the introduction of water into the bowl from below the perforated bottom of the same; but

We claim as our invention 1. The combination of the bowl of a woolwashing machine with the rake I, provided with a series of straight prongs, and a series of prongs, c, curved outwardly and upwardly from the said straight prongs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the bowl and the rake I, having straight and curved prongs, with the pivoted fork N, having a restricted movement, and situated in respect to the rake as set forth, so that both curved and straight IIO prongs of said rake sh all, during the movement of the latter, pass between the teeth of the pivoted fork, as specified.

3. The combination of the bowl, its perforated bottom, and the rakes I I with the airthe trough T, the inclined plane or chute D, the perforated or slotted chamber T, and the water-pipe q, communicating therewith, 20 all substantially as speclficd.

- 6. The combination of the lower pressureroller of a wool-washing machine and its shaft and bearings with collars y on the shaft and the guards w. 25

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSIAH K. PROOTOR. J. HENRY KNOWLES.

Witnesses HENRY HoWsoN, J11, O. F. TIETZE. 

